“Recently, one of the students sought permission to visit his home but he was denied. Later, he left for home without informing anyone. Upon his return, the staff thrashed him very cruelly,” a student informed.

Meanwhile, guardians of the students are reaching the hostel to take their children home.

“The authorities had charged us Rs. 10,000 per student for providing food, accommodation and clothing, but they cheated us,” rued Satapathy Bagha, a guardian.

Officials from the District child welfare department, who conducted a field inspection of the hostel, confirmed that the buildings lacked basic infrastructure. “The hostel warden was absent during the probe and has been ordered to present necessary documents within 7 days,” a CWC official said.

“We received a complaint from two hostel inmates against the hostel manager on August 10. An inquiry has been initiated and the authorities have been asked to submit their papers within 7 days,” stated, Rabindra Kumar Patra, Inspector-in-charge, Gunupur.